Razykov's
Orator has something to say
"When
I was awarded both the Grand Prix and the
Prize of the Russian Critics at the Kino Shok
festival in Russia, I knew that my film had
not only artistic merits, but also something
important to say about the changes in our
society," says Yusuf Razykov of his film Orator
(the first feature from Uzbekistan ever to
be presented at the Berlinale), which screens
in the Forum this year. And, he added: "I
only hope that it will also be understood
by the audience in Berlin."
An
historical panorama set against the background
of the Russian Revolution, one that portrays
the straitjacket conformity of communist ideology,
Orator could not have been made
10 years ago. But what makes it a standout among
productions in Central Asia is its honest, forthright
treatment of the Moslem religion, its subtle
elements of comedy mixed with tragedy and its
complete lack of a propagandistic message of
any sort.
